Multi-level expandable suitcase

ABSTRACT

A suitcase comprises a receptacle portion and a flap portion connected thereto. An access fastener is provided between the receptacle portion and the flap portion so as to releasably connect the flap portion to the receptacle portion to allow/close access to an interior of the receptacle portion. A first and a second level of lateral expansion are provided on the flap portion and/or the receptacle portion, with respectively a first-expansion and a second-expansion fastener extending about a periphery of the suitcase and openable to release suitcase material to increase a volume of the suitcase, whereby the volume of the suitcase is cumulatively increased by the first and the second level of lateral expansion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present patent application claims priority on U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application No. 60/797,774, filed on May 5, 2006.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to luggage and, more particularly, tosuitcases and like pieces of luggage expandable in size, to increase thevolume thereof.

2. Background Art

The amount of luggage used by a traveler often varies in round trips. Atraveler will typically pack some gifts, business documents or the like,that are destined to being given at the trip's destination. Likewise,travelers will often return home with additional luggage, to carry itemssuch as souvenirs. Similarly, travelers will frequently shop while onvacation, to benefit from locally unavailable merchandise, to save onhigh local taxes, and/or simply for the pleasure of it.

Accordingly, expandable compartments have been developed on suitcasesand like pieces of luggage. For such expandable compartments, a zipfastener surrounds the periphery of a soft-shell suitcase, and isopenable to release folded material. This results in an increase in thevolume of the suitcase. The zip fastener is simply closed to reduce thesize of the suitcase back to its original non-expanded dimensions.

Therefore, the size of the piece of luggage may be adjusted to someextent in order to adjust the carrying volume of the suitcase as afunction of the items to be accommodated within the suitcase. However,the level of expansion is somewhat limited by the single zip fastenerwith respect to the overall configuration of the suitcase.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

It is therefore an aim of the present invention to provide a suitcase orlike piece of luggage that addresses issues associated with the priorart.

Therefore, in accordance with the present invention, there is provided asuitcase comprising: a receptacle portion having wheels at a bottom forrolling displacement of the suitcase, and a retractable handleprojecting from a top of the suitcase for manipulating the suitcaseduring the rolling displacement; a flap portion connected to thereceptacle portion; an access fastener between the receptacle portionand the flap portion so as to releasably connect the flap portion to thereceptacle portion to allow/close access to an interior of thereceptacle portion; a first level of lateral expansion on any one of theflap portion and the receptacle portion, the first level of lateralexpansion having a first-expansion fastener extending about a peripheryof the suitcase and openable to release suitcase material to increase avolume of the suitcase; and a second level of lateral expansion on anyone of the flap portion and the receptacle portion, the second level oflateral expansion having a second-expansion fastener extending about aperiphery of the suitcase and openable to release suitcase material tofurther increase a volume of the suitcase; whereby the volume of thesuitcase is cumulatively increased by the first and the second level oflateral expansion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, referencewill now be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way ofillustration a preferred embodiment thereof and in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view of a multi-level expandable suitcase constructedin accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, astwice expanded;

FIG. 2 is a left-side view of the multi-level expandable suitcase ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a right-side view of the multi-level expandable suitcase ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the multi-level expandable suitcase of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the multi-level expandable luggage of FIG. 1,with a stand device in a retracted position; and

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the multi-level expandable luggage of FIG. 1,with the stand device in an extended support position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 4, a multi-level expandable suitcase inaccordance with the preferred embodiment is generally shown at 10. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the suitcase 10 is of the upright type, andis in the upright position in FIGS. 1 to 4.

The suitcase 10 has a generally rectangular body. In the illustratedembodiment, it is seen that the suitcase has a trapezoidal shape (i.e.,flared) from a front viewpoint. Accordingly, the center of mass of thesuitcase 10 is lower with this trapezoidal shape, resulting inadditional stability for the suitcase 10. The suitcase 10 has areceptacle portion A and a flap portion B, separable to allow access toan interior of the suitcase 10. In FIGS. 1 to 4, the receptacle portionA and the flap portion B are connected, whereby the suitcase 10 isclosed. The suitcase 10 has a front surface 14 and a rear surface 16.The periphery of the suitcase 10 is defined by a left lateral surface18, a top surface 20, a right lateral surface 22 and a bottom surface24.

The front surface 14 is provided with a pouch 26 and a main face pocket28. The main pocket 28 has a transverse zip fastener 30.

A retractable handle system 32 is positioned on the top surface 20adjacent to the rear surface 16. A retractable handle 32′ extendsupwardly from the top surface 20 of the suitcase 10. In FIGS. 1 to 4,the retractable handle 32′ is generally at a midpoint of its fullextension. Although not shown, the handle 32′ may be fully retractedinto the suitcase 10.

Caster systems 34 are associated with the handle 32′, and are positionedat the intersection of the rear surface 16 and the bottom surface 24 ofthe suitcase 10, with a rotational axis of casters 34′ being generallyparallel to the intersection edge between the rear surface 16 and thebottom surface 24. As is well known, the suitcase 10 may be tilted so asto rest on the casters 34′ while being supported and handled using thehandle 32′, in a rolling configuration of the suitcase 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, legs 36 are provided on the bottom surface24, adjacent to the front surface 14. When the suitcase 10 is in theupright position as is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the suitcase 10 issupported by the casters 34′ and the legs 36.

A handle 38 is provided on the left lateral surface 18 (FIGS. 1 and 2)in combination with four legs 40 (FIGS. 3 and 4) on the right lateralsurface 22. The suitcase 10 may therefore be put down on the ground tobe supported by the four legs 40 after being transported using thehandle 38.

The receptacle portion A is separated from the flap portion B by anaccess zip fastener 42 provided on the periphery of the suitcase 10 incombination with a tab 44 (FIGS. 3 and 4). By opening the access zipfastener 42, access is provided to an interior of the suitcase 10. Theaccess zip fastener 42 is typically provided with a pair of pullers (notshown).

In order to increase the volume of the suitcase 10, a first level ofexpansion is provided by way of a first-expansion zip fastener 50. Thezip fastener 50 is provided on the flap portion B and surrounds the fullperiphery of the suitcase 10. Accordingly, to expand the suitcase 10 tothe first level of expansion, the zip fastener 50 is opened by beingpulled about the full periphery of the suitcase 10. The front surface 14is then pulled outwardly to expand the suitcase 10. Loose suitcasefabric 52 is provided to define the additional volume of the suitcase10. Otherwise, when the zip fastener is closed, the loose suitcasefabric 52 is in an accumulated condition within the suitcase 10.

Similarly, a second level of expansion is provided by way of asecond-expansion zip fastener 54. As is the case for the first-expansionzip fastener 50, the zip fastener 54 is provided on the flap portion Band extends about the full periphery of the suitcase 10. Accordingly, toexpand the suitcase 10 to the second level of expansion, the zipfastener 54 is opened by being pulled about the full periphery of thesuitcase 10. The front surface 14 is further pulled outwardly to expandthe suitcase 10. Loose suitcase fabric 56 is provided to define theadditional volume of the suitcase 10.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the two levels of expansion allow a significantincrease in the volume of the suitcase 10. Moreover, either one of thetwo levels of expansion can be used alone, to reduce the expansion byhalf.

It is pointed out that the width of expansion is a function of the widthof the loose suitcase fabric 52 that is provided. In FIG. 3, it is seenthat the widths of expansion for the first and the second level ofexpansion are generally equal. However, it is considered to have twodifferent widths of expansion, to provide an additional overall widthfor the suitcase 10 as opposed to the embodiment of FIG. 3. Morespecifically, if the levels of expansion each provide an additionalwidth of value X, the expansion is either X or 2× in value. On the otherhand, if the first level of expansion has a value X, the second level ofexpansion has value Y, then the suitcase 10 can be expanded by X, Y orX+Y.

It is seen from FIG. 2, that the expanded flap portion B is smaller inlength than the receptacle portion A of the suitcase 10 (i.e., from therear surface 16 to the zip fastener 42). This is to reduce the risk oftilting of the suitcase 10 while in the upright position. The risk oftilting of course depends on the contents of the suitcase 10 and theireffect on the center of mass, but a smaller flap portion B to a largerreceptacle portion A will nonetheless reduce the risk of tilting.

Also, the capacity of the pockets provided on the front surface 14,namely pouch 26 and main face pocket 28, must be limited in view ofbalancing the suitcase 10 with respect to tilting. By limiting the sizeof these pockets, only small items can be fitted therein. For instance,the main face pocket 28 is narrow, such that relatively light items suchas documents, shoes (e.g., loafers) can be accommodated therein. In viewof the risk of tilting, it is also contemplated to remove the main facepocket 28.

The overall dimensions of the suitcase 10 may also be selected in viewof having the suitcase 10 qualify as suitable carry-on luggage. However,the multiple levels of expansion described above can also be used onlarger suitcases and like pieces of luggage.

In an embodiment, the height of the suitcase 10 ranges between 20 to 30inches, with a height of 25 inches well suited for the suitcase 10 to beused as carry-on luggage. A suitable width of the suitcase 10 for aheight of 25 inches, after the two levels of expansion have beenexpanded, is 14 inches, so as to obtain a preferred ratio of 1.78:1between the height and the width, to reduce the risk of the filledsuitcase 10 tipping over for a 25 inch high suitcase 10. Ratios arelower for smaller heights' of the suitcase 10.

Within these considerations, it is contemplated to provide the suitcase10 or like piece of luggage with additional levels of expansion. Forinstance, a third zip fastener (not shown) may be provided adjacent tothe second-expansion zip fastener 54.

Although the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 4 uses zip fasteners in the levelsof expansion (e.g., metallic or plastic), other types of fasteners maybe used, such as Velcro™, buttons, Ziploc™-type fasteners, tabs withmale and female connectors, or the like. Also, a first level ofexpansion or even multiple levels of expansion may be provided on thereceptacle portion A while the flap portion B has a single or no levelsof expansion.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a stand device 60 is secured to the bottomsurface 24 and is positioned adjacent to the legs 36. The stand device60 has a leg 62 that is displaceable along direction X, from a retractedposition (FIG. 5), to an extended support position (FIG. 6). When thesuitcase 10 is expanded by one or multiple levels, the leg 62 isdisplaced to the extended support position of FIG. 6 so as to provideadditional support to the suitcase 10 in its upright position (FIGS. 1to 4). This reduces the possibility of tilting of the suitcase 10 whilein the upright position, as the stand device 60 will participate insupporting the suitcase 10. Moreover, the trapezoidal shape of thesuitcase 10 also reduces the risk of tipping over, by lowering thecenter of mass of the suitcase 10.

It is considered to provide straps or like structural supports (i.e.,attachment means) inside the suitcase 10, both in the receptacle portionA and in the flap portion B. With such structural supports, the itemscan be arranged in an organized manner in the suitcase 10. Accordingly,whether the flap portion B is expanded or not, the straps or likesupports can be used to retain items in the flap portion B in anorganized manner.

1. A suitcase comprising: a receptacle portion having wheels at a bottomfor rolling displacement of the suitcase, and a retractable handleprojecting from a top of the suitcase for manipulating the suitcaseduring the rolling displacement; a flap portion connected to thereceptacle portion; an access fastener between the receptacle portionand the flap portion so as to releasably connect the flap portion to thereceptacle portion to allow/close access to an interior of thereceptacle portion; a first level of lateral expansion on any one of theflap portion and the receptacle portion, the first level of lateralexpansion having a first-expansion fastener extending about a peripheryof the suitcase and openable to release suitcase material to increase avolume of the suitcase; and a second level of lateral expansion on anyone of the flap portion and the receptacle portion, the second level oflateral expansion having a second-expansion fastener extending about aperiphery of the suitcase and openable to release suitcase material tofurther increase a volume of the suitcase; whereby the volume of thesuitcase is cumulatively increased by the first and the second level oflateral expansion.
 2. The suitcase according to claim 1, wherein thefirst level of lateral expansion and the second level of lateralexpansion are on the flap portion.
 3. The suitcase according to claim 2,wherein an interior of the flap portion encloses attachment means toretain items stored inside the flap portion.
 4. The suitcase accordingto claim 1, wherein an outer surface of the flap portion has at leastone pocket accessible from an exterior of the suitcase.
 5. The suitcaseaccording to claim 1, wherein the first level of lateral expansion andthe second level of lateral expansion both independently increase thevolume of the suitcase by a same value.
 6. The suitcase according toclaim 1, wherein the first level of lateral expansion and the secondlevel of lateral expansion both independently increase the volume of thesuitcase by a different value.
 7. The suitcase according to claim 1,wherein the flap fastener, the first-expansion fastener and thesecond-expansion fastener are zip enclosures.
 8. The suitcase accordingto claim 1, wherein an undersurface of the suitcase has supports tomaintain the suitcase upright when self-standing, the supports includinga stand device extendable laterally in a direction of the levels oflateral expansion to further support the suitcase when at least one ofthe levels of lateral expansion is expanded.
 9. The suitcase accordingto claim 1, wherein an interior of the flap portion encloses attachmentmeans to retain items stored inside the flap portion.
 10. The suitcaseaccording to claim 1, wherein the receptacle portion and the flapportion have a trapezoidal shape in a plane normal to the direction oflateral expansion.